JAMMU: -Director Agriculture Dr S. S. Jamwal today conducted an extensive tour of R. S Pura Sub-Division to assess the damages to crops due to heavy rain and hailstorm at Badyal Brahmna, Jassore, Mangral, Sangral, Abdullian, Puro Bhana, Chak Khana, Chak Agra, Chatha Farm, Kullian, Langriali, Bera, Bega, Shahpur Tonkli, Partap Singh Pura, Bishnah, Pandorian Manhasan, Pandorian Brahmna, Kalyana, Arnia, Pindi Charkan Kalan, Bala Chak, Dablehar, Rathana, Nandpur, Bahadurpur, Zoyian, Kathar and Chorli villages.
He interacted with the farmers, Sarpanchs and Panchs of the area who gave a detailed account of extensive damage to wheat, mustard, barseem and vegetable crops due to prolonged stagnation of rain water in the fields, lodging of crops and further anticipated damage to the roots of crops as the weather gets clear and temperature soars up. They apprised him about the condition of the farmers due to second successive crop failure caused by weather vagaries.
Dr. Jamwal and the accompanying team of officers informed that there has been damage to the crops and agriculture land also due to the flooding waters of nallahs and Tawi river in many areas. In the low lying cropped area, there was still about 1.5 to 2.0 feet standing water in the fields. Extensive damage to the potato fields was also noticed with poor tuber formation where water is stagnating for last many days. There was complete loss in the entire watermelon and cucurbit crop growing in the Badyal belt along with many other vegetables.
Dr. Jamwal on the occasion told the farmers that he had issued directions to the field functionaries to conduct survey of the each village by organizing meetings with the farmers so that a detailed report of crop damages is prepared with immediate effect. Chief Agriculture Officer, Jammu Chander Mohan Sharma also interacted with the farmers and the field functionaries of the department. S. Harjeet Singh, SDAO, R. S. Pura along with AEOs and JAEOs of Dharap, R.S.Pura, Keerpind, Chak Hassal and Bishnah Zones also accompanied the Director Agriculture during the visit.